What an atmosphere

THE Devon derby match between Albion and Exeter at Brickfields was a great event - even if the result did not go the way Plymouth supporters wanted.
The atmosphere in the ground was tremendous.A record crowd of just under 7,000 turned up to watch.That is believed to be the biggest attendance for a league rugby match not featuring a team that had ever been in the Premiership.
The attendance was also larger than three of that weekend’s Heineken Cup games - Gwent Dragons v Glasgow (5,238), Calvisano v Cardiff (3,500) and Edinburgh v Leinster (5,372).
It was also not far short of the crowd that turned up for the Llanelli v Harlequins Heineken Cup game, which attracted 8,236 people.
It just shows the interest in rugby in Devon and make you think just what type of crowds could be pulled in if there was a Premiership club in the area.
Exeter’s win kept them in touch with leaders Leeds, but most people inside Brickfields felt the final scorelines flattered the Chiefs.
With just minutes of normal time remaining Albion were still in the running for a bonus point - attacking Exeter’s line just 13 points down.But two converted injury-time tries were a real kick in the teeth for Albion, who, despite a host of injuries, battled bravely.
With Liam Gibson, James Tideswell, Alex Davies, Jake Childs and Ross Batten already on the sidelines, Albion went and lost backs David Palu and Geoff Griffiths with nasty injuries early in the match against the Chiefs.
Exeter were the better team, but it was only a three of four players that made the difference on the day.
Rumours going around Brickfields before the match was that Exeter’s playing budget this season is over a £1million more than Albion’s – and all the other Division One clubs, apart from Leeds.
Who knows if that is true, but most people at Brickfields that day would not say they were a millions pounds better.
Exeter, whose Sandy Park ground is proving a popular conference centre, are certainly going for it this season, which you have to admire, but it is a gamble, especially when you see what happened to other clubs like Richmond and Orrell who chased the ‘dream’ too hard.
Even if you get the promised land of the Premiership it does not set you up for life – just look at Rotherham and even Bristol now.